Motor-vehicle.



PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

No. 870,459. G. P. PARKS.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10. 1906.

anucnfoz (100596 PPGIZE? WZZ%@ UNITED STATES P TE OFFICE.

ononon P. PARKS, or BEDFORD, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNEASSIGN- MENTS, TO POSTAL AUTO AND ENGINE COMPANY, OF BEDFORDJND'IANA.

MOTOR-VEHICLE;

Specification of.Letters Patent.

Patented. Nov; 5, 1907.

Application filed November 10. 1906. Serial No. 342,839.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEoRGn P. Penn's, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Redford,

. in the county of Lawrence and State of Indiana, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Motkir-z drive shaft, improved means'iorsupporting the rear I axle from the springs of the running gear andadjusting said axle to take up slack in the drive belts.

1n the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a side view of a motor vehicleembodying the invention the rear wheel being partially broken away andthe" rear axle shown in transverse section to better dis-" close theconstruction. Fig. 2 is a detail view showing the form of the pivotalconnections between the rear axle and springs.

v Reierringto the drawings, 1 designates the body of the vehicle,supported at each side upona longitudinal spring Z extending between andconnected with the front and rear axles 3 and 4. Suitably mounted uponthe running gear of the vehicle is a motor 5 whose shaft 6 carries asprocket pinion i7 frormwhih a drive chain 8 leads to a sprocket wheel 9on a driving I counter shaft 10, to whichis fixed a .drive pulleyll. 30

Each rear wheel 12 is revolubly mounted upon the rear axle 4 and carriesa belt rim or pulley 13 connected with the driving pulley 11 by anendlessidrive belt 14. The axle 4 is stationary except in so far as itis adjustably mounted upon the two springs 2, to effect the adjustmentof the wheels 12 to take up slack-in -the drive belt, and it will beunderstood that while the driving connection for but one rear wheel isshown, each rear wheel is driven in the same manner.

The rear end of ,each spring 2 is suitably enlarged and provided with alongitudinal row or series of trans: verse openings 15, and the axle 4is pivotally supported from these enlarged ends of the springs bybrackets:

16. Each bracket 16 comprises a body portion 17.

suitably fastened to the axle and provided with a pair of upstandingcars 18 pierced for the=passage of a transverse pivot pin 19 adapted toalso pass through either one of the openings 15 in the springto'pivotally con greet the bracket therewith. lAn apertured lug 20 deoftwo witnesses.-

pends from one of the brackets 16, and to said lug is pivotallyconnected the lower rear end of a rod 21 piv- -5'.0 otally attached atits upper forward end to an operating lever 22 iulcrumed upon one sideof the vehicle, said lever carrying an ordinary form of locking dog orpawl 23 to engage a stationary rack 24.

It will beseen frointhe foregoing description that 5 by throwingtheleverforwardly or rearwardly the rod f21 will be moved to swing the rearaxle 4 upon the rear ,ends of the springseitherforward or rearward,thereby shifting the positions of the wheels to loosen or tighten thedriving belts 14 as occasion may require; ,By

means 7 of the adjustable connection -between the brackets-and springsthe rear'axle may also be moved forwardly or rearwardly to compensatefor any abnornial degree of tautness or slackness of the driving belts.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed. 6 d -asnew,is:, i

1., In a motor vehicle, the combination of reach springs,

an axle' pivotally connected with the-springs, nieans for adjusting thepivotal'con'nections longitudinally onthe springs, drive wheels carriedby the axle, belt gearing for driving said wheels, and means forswinging the axle on its pivotal connections for adjusting said gearing.i 2. The combination, in a vehicle, of reach springs, each provided witha series of openings, an axle, brackets carried by the axle, pivot pinsfor pivotally connecting the-7,5.

brackets adjustably. with the opposite portions of the springs, drivewheels carried by the axle, belt gearing for driving Skid Wheels, andmeans for swinging the axle on the said pivotal connection.

. 3. The combination, in a vehicle, of reach springs pro- 86 videdwithcnlarged rear ends, each having a series of transverse openings, anaxle, brackets carrying the axle and provided with upstanding portions,-pins passing through said portions and pivotally connecting the-same Vwith the apertured portions of the springs, drive wheels carried by theaxle, belt gearing for driving said wheels, and means for swinging theaxle on the pivotal connectlons.

4. The" combination, in a vehlcle, oi. reach springs each provided withan enlarged rear end having a series of 90 transverse ppenings, an axlearranged -be1o,w.the Springs 3 and carrylngdrive wheels, bracketsengaging the axle and having upturned ears embracing the aperturedendsof the springs, pins connecting said ears with the apertured ends ofthe axle, belt gearing for driving the wheels, and means connected witha'depending portion of one of said brackets for swinging the axle on itspivotal connections.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence v GEORGE P.PARKS.

Witnesses:

B. B. MAnLnx,-. JOHN MARLEY.

